KAZAKH FOREIGN MINISTER URGES CONTINUATION OF TALKS ON CASPIAN STATUS

Excerpt from report by Kazakh Khabar TV on 5 April

[Presenter] The foreign ministers of the Caspian-littoral states will discuss the subject of dividing energy resources on an international scale in Moscow tomorrow. Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev met Russian journalists today and announced Astana's official stance on the Caspian Sea's legal status. It is six years since the talks on the issue have been under way. However, no full agreement has been reached as yet by Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

Tokayev said that serious contradictions arose between the states at the latest summit in Asgabat. Dividing the sea bottom and deposits is the major problem.

As for the sea's biological resources and the protection of the environment, serious progress was made in this area. Tokayev added that he intended to call on his colleagues to make constructive decisions in order to further agree on the provisions of the convention on the Caspian's legal status. It is necessary to ensure that a summit of the presidents of the five Caspian-littoral states takes place as early as this year. There are plans to hold a summit in Tehran. Irrespective of the contradictions and Iran's special stance, Kazakhstan intends to continue the talks.

[Tokayev in Russian] We are not inclined to dramatize the existing contradictions but to speak of the need to continue the talks. As you know, Kazakhstan was committed to a stance of sense and compromise from the very outset.

[Passage to end omitted: Tomorrow's meeting is due to discuss the demilitarization of the Caspian area]

Source: Khabar Television, Almaty, in Russian 1400 gmt 5 Apr 04

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